More Than Third of Republicans Want Their State to Secede from US

While the Republican party faithful pride themselves on patriotism, many of them believe they would be better off if their states seceded from the Union. Only 62 per cent believe otherwise.

This interesting piece of news is found from a poll conducted in April. It may be difficult for some people to get their heads around this notion, but why am I not surprised? That’s because I have heard a politician in Louisiana actually intimate secession publicly when discussing financial issues and saw his audience nod in agreement.

If Representative John Fleming is like that, and the Governor of Texas Rick Perry, then it is likely there are a whole lot more Republicans who would prefer secession for the states where they live as opposed to remaining with the Union.

This was the question: "Do you think the state that you live in would be better off as an independent nation or as part of the United States of America?", to which only 62% of those who identify themselves as Republicans said yes. 12% actually said their state should secede, 26% were unsure. Compare that with Democrats where 91% would remain Americans while only 9% were either uncertain or in favor of it.

What people have forgotten is that Democrats talked about secession also right after George Bush won in 2004. In fact they drew maps showing what the country would look like without the South. So just in case Democrats believe that it is only Republicans that have made statements about secession, it’s important to know the facts. Right after the election Lawrence O'Donnell, a former Democratic Senate staffer at the time, talked about the fact that blue states were financially caring for red ones with their taxes and said this: "The big problem the country now has, which is going to produce a serious discussion of secession over the next 20 years, is that the segment of the country that pays for the federal government is now being governed by the people who don't pay for the federal government."

When asked what O’Donnell really meant by this, "Are you calling for civil war?" O'Donnell replied, "You can secede without firing a shot."

Governor Perry talked secession but do Texans agree? Whereas nearly one-third declare the State of Texas could secede only 18% want to. But still that’s a big number when we think of how large the state is.

These are interesting points in talking politics of the South, because the polls didn’t appear to break people apart into specific states within regions of the country. One wonders how that might have made a difference in the outcomes.